Flock Of Dudes, an indie-comedy starring Chris D’elia, Hannah Simone, Skylar Astin, Bryan Greenberg, and Eric Andre, will be released this Friday, September 30th. When we came up with the idea of Flock, my writing partners Brian Levin, Jason Zumwalt, and I had no idea it would consume the next decade of our lives, but that’s exactly what’s happened. It’s taken us nine years to make this movie and get it onto the big screen. This is the story.

2007

Jason Zumwalt, myself and Brian Levin, aka The Post Show, circa 2007. We needed headshots so we went to the K-Mart on 14th Street and this is what we got. (Just for the record, we didn't buy those shirts.) Photo: Bob Castrone/Olan Mills

We’re writing a movie.

By we, I mean myself and my two writing partners, Brian Levin and Jason Zumwalt. (That’s us, up there!) We don’t know what that movie is yet, but sitting at the new Sugar Cafe on the corner of Allen and Houston, it’s time to figure that out. Eventually, one of us says “let’s write what we know.” Okay. What do we know?”

We think in silence, until finally there’s an answer. “We know what it’s like to be a part of an impenetrable, cock-blocking flock of dudes.” If nothing else, we were keenly in tune with the experience of going out as a group of single guys and forming a disgusting Voltron of testosterone and bourbon that made it impossible to have meaningful conversations with members of the opposite sex. We knew it well.

We talk about this for a while, and eventually leave Sugar with a kernel of an idea: a movie about a group of friends who break up with one another in order to finally grow up.

We spend the rest of the summer outlining “A Flock Of Dudes.” We name the lead character Adam in honor of Adam Brody, an actor none of us have ever seen in anything but we imagine is quite good.

It’s an exciting time. Thanks to a deal with Turner’s SuperDeluxe.com, we were all
able to quit our jobs to make online videos full time as The Post Show. Also, we just signed with a Hollywood talent agency, UTA, and have decided to move out west in the fall to pursue TV and Film.

In mid-September, we move to the Oakwoods in Toluca Lake, and then into a house in Hollywood, though I’m flying back to NY a lot. I have a bunch of weddings to attend. Plus, I started dating a 4th grade public school teacher named Heather and the plan is to do long distance during the school year. After that, who knows?

Move to Hollywood, kids, and one day you too can work with Ron “The Hedgehog” Jeremy!Photo: Bob Castrone

Settling into Los Angeles, Brian and I take our first round of meetings with production companies. We drink bottles of water and tell young development execs about the screenplay we just started writing. It’s a group decision to leave Jason out of these meetings because (a) Brian and I are the Jews, and (b) Jason is a Viking prone to breaking chairs. We’re sharing one car, though, so Jason rides to the meetings with us and wanders aimlessly around the parking lot while we chat.

We complete the first draft of Flock on December 13th, 2007. We chose to write it in a notebook by hand, because that’s how we had written our sketches, so it takes Jason a couple of days to type it all up.

It’s 173 pages long.

We whittle it down to 120 and send it to our agents. There’s a Friendster joke on page 87.

2008

After receiving some helpful constructive feedback, we write the second draft of Flock and send it to our literary agent, Barbara Dreyfus. She’s the one who has to weigh in before anything happens.

Blame New York, or youth, whatever, we don’t have the patience to wait. Brian calls the online department -a room of five junior agents- and gets on the phone with Ryan Reber, a part-time DJ with his name tattoo’d on his forearm. Brian asks if it would be possible to send the script to the execs we had already met while we wait for Barbara to read it. We had told these people that we were writing Flock months ago and we didn’t want them to think we were lazy (or full of shit.) Ryan agrees, breaks protocol, and sends Flock to a half dozen production companies.

A week passes when we get the call. Imagine wants to develop the movie with us. IMAGINE! Ron Howard! Brian Grazer! We are PUMPED!

And then the shit hits the fan.

During that week —while we were waiting for people to read the script— we had taken a second meeting with Josh. Josh was with Terra Firma, a production company run by one of the dudes who wrote American Pie. Josh read the script, liked the writing, but didn’t think it was a movie. However, he did want to talk more, so they set up a second meeting with him and his co-producer, Greg. They both shared their thoughts and ideas about what they would do with Flock if they were involved, and then we left. Unbeknownst to us at the time, showing up to that meeting was our nonverbal agreement to work with them.

It’s complete bullshit. But since Barbara also reps the Pie Guy we’re advised to forget about Imagine and just work with Terra Firma. We don’t want to. We really want Imagine. Brian throws out the possibility of both companies working together, and eventually, everyone agrees. Imagine and Terra Firma will co-produce, with Imagine taking the lead role. We dodge a bullet.

Our part-time DJ agent isn’t so lucky, though. He’s gone from UTA before the year ends.

2009

2009, baby! This is going to be the year, I CAN FEEL IT! (Spoiler Alert: It wasn't.) Photo: Bob Castrone

After many notes and many drafts, Flock is done. Before the script gets sent out to studios, though, a few things need to happen. Imagine has a first-look deal with Universal, so we need to see if Universal wants it before anyone else can read it. It takes a minute, but eventually, they pass. Next up: Andy Samberg. His people want to attach him to star, so we wait a minute for that to play out. It doesn’t happen. Finally, in an effort to make the movie more appealing to buyers, Imagine takes a minute to attach a director. That doesn’t work either. Worth noting: these “minutes” all take weeks and in the meantime we’re left wondering WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING to our movie.

Flock finally goes out to the town on June 23rd. Industry sites are writing about how it’s the worst spec market in the history of Hollywood, which is not exactly what you want to read when your career is hanging in the balance. Some big studios pass immediately, but then, suddenly, there’s a glimmer of hope: Lionsgate in intrigued. Not interested… intrigued! The Hangover has just dominated the box office and changed what everyone’s looking for in a comedy, so they want us to scrap our Apatow-inspired bromance and come pitch them a bigger/brasher/badder version of Flock.

With Imagine’s help, we bust out a brand new version of Flock in a matter of days. We fill up a conference room at Lionsgate- The Post Show, Imagine, Terra Firma, our manager Itay Reiss, Barbara from UTA. We dive into the pitch and…

2010

Seven months of “so… is the deal done yet?” phone calls later, my phone vibrates. Erin Fredman —our main contact at Imagine and unofficial 4th dude in our Flock— is on the other end.

“There’s good news and there’s bad news,” Erin begins. “The deal between Imagine and Lionsgate is off. We were unable to come to an agreement where everybody was happy. But here’s the good news: Lionsgate still wants to make your movie. And we want them to make your movie… so we’re going to remove ourselves from the project. Congratulations.”

I’m floored. After a year of developing Flock, Imagine walks away with nothing to show for it.

Terra Firma, however, does not. Months go by as The Pie Guy negotiates a payout with Lionsgate. We receive frequent updates that he’s coming dangerously close to sinking the whole project, but thankfully, a deal eventually gets done. He gets his money and his credit, and we get to move on.

In July —a full year after our meeting with Lionsgate and a couple of weeks after that 4th grade teacher Heather and I get married— Flock is officially set up at Lionsgate. Now it’s time to re-write it for a studio!

2011

March 11, 6:15pm:Flock of Dudes is dead.

Maybe this was inevitable. With every meeting and every round of notes we received from Lionsgate, we openly wondered “Is this making the movie better?” But we listened, and we did what we were told, and in the end, we were confident we turned in the best version of the movie they wanted to make. Now they don’t want to make that movie anymore.

After a few months or mourning we call Itay to find out if we could get the movie back. We’re still passionate about Flock and want to make it ourselves. He puts in a call.

To our surprise, this one call sets off a chain reaction that results in the head of Lionsgate’s new micro-budget division reading the screenplay. And guess what- this dude loves Flock! In fact, once he finishes Rapturepalooza (actual movie!) and Gay Dude (later released as Date And Switch) he wants to add it to his slate and shoot it in November.

Suddenly the script is being sent to every agency and management company in town. We get drinks with Adam Pally at El Carmen to talk about the role of Adam. Our friend Eric Andre shows up to Brian’s 31st birthday party and declares he would do anything to play Mook. A big talent meeting is set up at UTA and a room full of agents pitch names like Bill Hader, Aziz Ansari, Jake Johnson, and Kevin Hart. It doesn’t even feel real.

Four days after that meeting, on September 13 at 10:17 a.m. I become a dad to a little dude of my own. I’m so happy and exhausted and sleep-deprived and happy (did I say happy?) I barely even realize that November comes and goes without Flock getting made.

2012

“So this isn’t, like, normal? Is it?”

I don’t have an answer for Heather. In fact, since we began the Flock experience, I’ve asked that question a thousand times myself. But here we are. Lionsgate’s micro-budget division has died a quiet death, and once again, all is silent on the Flock-ward front. (My sincere apologies to Erich Maria Remarque for the pun.)

Lionsgate’s option expires in February, which means Flock is all ours, once again. We’re more determined to make it than ever. The first order of business is a major re-write. We abandon the Hangover-esque ridiculousness and get back to the story that excited us in the first place: a group of friends breaking up in order to grow up.

We write a fancy new draft and Brian gets to work rounding up money for the one million dollar version of Flock that I will direct. Because it was set up at a studio, and so many people had read it or heard of it at this point, we’re able to secure two-hundred thousand dollars relatively quickly.

And that’s when we decide to try something that we learned here in Hollywood. Exaggeration.

The state of New York has a new film incentive program that gives NY-based productions a 30% tax credit. So for our $1 million movie, that’s $300K. And we already had $200K. Which means… we’ve locked down half of our budget to make Flock Of Dudes.

Makes sense, right?

We start telling everyone the good news. By October, I’m being set up on meetings with talent while Brian and Jason figure out how to secure the remaining 1/2 (or, depending who you ask, 4/5ths) of our budget.

2013

Me and a few of my friends from 'The Burn With Jeff Ross,' including Nikki Glaser.

JANUARY: I’m working on season 2 of Comedy Central’s The Burn with Jeff Ross during the day and meeting with actors and actresses about Flock Of Dudes at night.

Brian and Jason, meanwhile, re-connect with a friend, Aaron Kaufman. Aaron’s a producer for Robert Rodriguez who’s looking to go solo. Brian hands him Flock and he agrees to come on board.

MARCH: Aaron walks us into a film financing company to sell the movie. We share our vision, and I run through the list of the incredible comedians I’ve been meeting with, names such as Hannibal Buress, Kumail Nanjiani, and Chris D’elia. The financiers are intrigued. They love the idea of filling this movie with the next wave of stars.

Here’s an early table read with Bryan, Skylar and Chris.Photo: Bob Castrone

When the talk turns to me directing it, Mark Manuel —an intimidating man wearing a suit more expensive than my car— turns to me and says, “We think Flock of Dudes could be a movie that really connects with audiences and becomes a cult classic… or it could be a complete disaster. That’s entirely up to you.”

I respond confidently (while simultaneously wetting myself) “I’ve been living with this movie for five years. There’s nobody else I’d trust to do it.”

We left the meeting with two million dollars. We’re making Flock Of Dudes.

APRIL/MAY/JUNE: HOLY SHIT WE’RE MAKING FLOCK!JULY:Flock of Dudes shoots for 18 days in Los Angeles. It’s a fever dream.AUGUST-DECEMBER: Thanks to heavy improvisation, the first cut clocks in at 2 hours and 38 minutes. We spend the rest of the year cutting it down and making it better and better.

There is one problem, though: we never shot an opening title sequence and the movie needs one. We just have to get our dudes back together to do it.

2014

Hey, if you ever got a chance to stand on a crane on the set of the film that you're directing, you'd do it, too! Photo: Bob Castrone

It’s a scheduling nightmare, but by the end of February we finally get the cast together for a couple of hours to shoot our titles. Now we need new editor because the old editor is unavailable. Fortunately, our financiers have a guy they like.

Unfortunately, that guy is finishing a movie in South Africa. We wait two months for him.

We finally picture-lock the movie in June, do our ADR, music, and sound design in the summer, and have a completed film by September. The next step? A screening for distributors.

Naturally we’re going to have to wait until after the holidays for that. Naturally.

2015

Here's me and the cast of 'FLOCK' before our first ever public screening. You can ignore the smile on my face, as things are about to go south. (Blissfully, I don't know that yet.) Photo: Getty Images

Flock of Dudes screens for distributors in New York and Los Angeles on January 7th- my 35th birthday. We attend the LA screening, but at this point, everything happening with the movie is way above our heads. We hear that there are multiple offers from distributors, but as time ticks by, no deal is made.

Months pass. We are completely in the dark as to what’s going on. Then on April 13th, out of the blue, I receive a surprising email.

SUBJECT: FLOCK OF DUDES / LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Dear Bob,
We’re so happy to confirm your film FLOCK OF DUDES for its World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival. We thought it was full of so much heart and humor, and we’re excited to play it.

I had no clue we had even submitted to a festival, and now, just like that, we’re premiering at one. YES!

Flock‘s world premiere is set for Saturday, June 13th at the Regal Cinemas at LA Live. Our cast is there. Distributors are there. It’s packed. In fact, we have to turn away nearly a hundred people at the door. The lights go down. The movie starts playing and it is… amazing.

It’s been eight years since we first said the words “Flock of Dudes” in the Sugar Cafe and now, unbelievably, after all the ups and downs and starts and stops, it was playing on the big screen in front of a sold out audience.

I look down the row and every person is smiling. Every joke is landing. I take a deep breath, get comfortable in my seat, and then, at about the 20 minute mark…It jumps. The movie skips forward about 45 seconds right to the next scene.

My mind is racing. What was that? Did anyone notice? It happened on a cut at the end of the first reel. Flock Of Dudes consisted of six reels. Did something happen to the print? Was it going to happen again?

It happens again. This time, hard. In the middle of a line, in the middle of a scene. Like a record skipping, it jumps about two full minutes directly into Reel 3.

I leap out of my chair and rush out of the theater. “The movie is messed up! It’s skipping! We need to turn it off!” I yell out to nobody and everybody.

Here’s me and my beautiful (and pregnant) wife on the red carpet, mere minutes before disaster was about to strike.Photo: Getty Images

Everything that happens from here out is a blur. I remember Heather, Brian, Jason, and Itay huddled around me in the hallway. I remember insisting that we turn the movie off but being talked out of it. I remember Brian going in for the end of Reel 3, and coming out with the news that it skipped again. I remember Jason coming out and saying despite the skipping, the movie was still getting huge laughs. He tries to get me to go back in, but there was no way in hell that’s happening.

I spend the rest of our premiere pacing in the hallway waiting anxiously for the movie to end. The second it’s over, I rush in and grab the mic that was set up for the Q&A and with the credits rolling above my head I begin, “I want to thank you guys for coming to the world premiere of MOST of Flock Of Dudes.”

I explain what happens and the cast joins me for a surreal Q&A. It’s hard to A Qs when your mind’s racing and you feel like you’re going to throw up the whole time.

Because they feel so terrible for us, the LA Film Festival gives us a second screening. We manage to sell it out in just three days, and thankfully, THAT screening goes off without a hitch.

In the weeks following the festival, we’re all reeling from the experience. We wonder if Flock is cursed. We question if that was the end of the road. Would it ever be seen again? Would anyone touch it? Maybe that was the death Flock was destined for after all.

2016

Here's Chris, Bryan and Kumail in a still from the actual movie! (It comes out on Friday, you should watch it!) Photo: Starz

Naturally, the deal takes months and months to finalize, but when it’s done, it’s done. Flock has made it to the finish line. Finally. Flock Of Dudes is coming out on September 30th in select theaters, and will be available to watch on iTunes and Amazon.

Over the past nine years this movie has given us a little bit of everything. Sleepless nights, great friendships, unbridled joy, unbelievable stress, and even incredible sadness. (Barbara, our lit agent, tragically passed away in May of 2015- one month before the premiere.)

I knew moving west and attempting to start a career in show business would be hard, but I never expected this. When we began writing this movie I was a single dude in New York who spent too much time drinking and dicking around with his friends. By the time it finally hits theaters this month I’ll be a married guy in Los Angeles with two little dudes of my own.

Nine years.

NINE YEARS!

For a little comedy about a flock of dudes. How the fuck does somebody make Avatar?

Flock Of Dudes will be in select theaters and on iTunes this Friday, September 30; it will be available on VOD starting on Friday, October 7. Find out more information by visiting the movie’s official website, FlockOfDudesMovie.com.